if the brass is swelling and im only getting 70 pellets in a 10 inch circle, 22 gr of powder. Am I loading them too hot? the recipe I used said they would be traveling 1400 fps and the federals say they only shoot 1100 fps. I zero experience loading shells so any help is appreciated

Gas operated semi auto by chance?

Are you using a tested recipe and following it exactly?

22 grains of what powder? What's the payload?

Alliant 410 powder ( couldn’t find lil gun) and it was 13/16th oz of 9’s. They won’t eject out of my single shot

Sounds way high pressure to me..... with both powders....

So you used Alliant 410 instead of Lil Gun when the recipe called for Lil Gun?

There was an issue with some Alliant 300MP a few years back that some of us got ahold of that was hotter than the typical Alliant powder. It was tracked back to several known batches. Potentially could be an issue here.

Also, if you change components (such as known powder) you can cause different issues like pressure spikes.

Just looking for load data online with that powder, it should be closer to 12 grains, not 22

Probably lucky you still have your .410 and both hands and eyes honestly

What he said! Get some data that’s been tested and follow it as described with the components it calls for.

I’m curious as hell who gave you that recipe?

Never substitute Powder "A" for Powder "B" in a recipe. The recipe is pressure tested, when you change components, any component, then you are in unknown pressure territory. That is a place you don't want to be. You are asking for BAD things to happen.....

You coulda had a bentbarrel.

Powder substitution is a bad no no. Magnifies even more in the little 410.
Hell just buy some loads before you lose a hand or eye or get with someone that knows what the are doing.

You should send 3-4 of those shells to Precision Reloading and have them tested ( I will pay for it) and then post the results on every turkey hunting page you can find that way people will realize that you should NOT replace any component of a tested recipe without talking to the developer first. I guarantee you those shells are WAY overpressured and you are lucky to not have damaged your gun or worse than that, gotten hurt.

👀

the recipe i used didn't call for the lil gun powder, I just read it was better. I did not replace any component. I only loaded two of them. I gotta start somewhere since I dont have any friends or anyone that loads their own shells. Unless there was a typo in this fellas recipe it calls for 22 gr of powder. thanks for the info and I guess I should feel lucky

I wouldn't shoot that with my gun (hands, eyes, face, etc) whether the powder is Lil Gun or 410. And I've been known to shoot a lot of first-timer-ever payloads, powders, velocities, etc. Wherever you got that recipe is a place I'd probably not get any more from....

i know you know, so I'll take the advice.

Ask questions. Ask questions of different sources. Read a reloading manual. Ask more questions. Then proceed with caution. You are dealing with explosives near vulnerable and critical human components.

I would suggest buying some shot from Hal, get a load and follow it. Good to go, and it’s easy to follow his recipe.